Level4Suit™ Press Release November 26, 2014 Hugo, MN USA

Police Riot Shield Sparks Idea for New Ebola Shield

Some features are missing from the currently-approved CDC’S Ebola suits; confidence in safety, comfort for the long days, and a practical way to put on and take off the suit in a few minutes.

Also missing is a safety shield through which the healthcare worker and patient can share some reassuring smiles.

Larry McMurray, inventor, watched the Ebola crisis unfold like the rest of us. Medical personal, working with the victims, also want to protect themselves, so they wear the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). They rely heavily on it and strict protocols for their safety. Varying or skipping a protocol step is not an option.

However, the amount of time it takes to put on the protective equipment, with all the protocol, almost equals the amount of time the worker can remain inside it.

McMurray knew he could come up with something better than what is being used. After watching the Ebola crisis unfold in October, the very next TV news story showed police donning riot gear. It dawned on him, “Why not have a shield to cover the whole front of a person; face, neck, and chest?” The Level4Suit evolved from there.

The innovative design addresses all the current suit shortfalls; safety while removing it, only two pieces, and extra-wide arm sleeve which allows the wearers to pull their arms inside the suit to safely access things like a water bottle or cell phone inside the suit. The prototype has many more unique features for safety, comfort, and function. It even has an option to safely use a stethoscope.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is partnering with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions, and the U.S. Department of Defense to launch the “Fighting Ebola; A Grand Challenge for Development” program. McMurray has submitted this idea to the Grand Challenge but as of today, it is in a pile of over 1250 other ideas.

McMurray is optimistic the review board will take a good look at it when it surfaces in their queue. As he says, “I’ll do whatever it takes to get this design into production so our healthcare workers will be covered!” Can you help me get this into right the hands?

For more details about the “Level4Suit” contact Larry McMurray at 651-340-5142, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..